Fruit branding device or tool



July 8,1941. T DDER 2,248,207

FRUIT BRANDING DEVICE OR TOOL Filed Sept. 12, 1939 Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 12, 1939, Serial No. 294,558

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a branding tool designed primarily for providing identification indicia upon fruits, such as citrus fruits or the like, but it is to be understood that a branding tool, in accordance with this invention is for employment in any connection for which it may be found applicable.

The invention aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a branding tool by means of which an identifying mark in the form of the name of a brand, a design or other suitable identifying indicia may be expeditiously formed on the periphery of the fruit in such a manner that the indicia cannot be removed without injuring the skin or surface of the fruit.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a branding tool so constructed whereby it may be readily installed with respect to a conveyor apparatus employed in the sizing of fruits without necessitating any undue changes in the structure and at a nominal expense.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a branding tool including an electrically heated marker for applying identification indicia on and by searing the skin of the fruit to the desired depth without impairing or injuring the surface of the fruit and at the same time so setting up the identification indicia relative to the fruit that it cannot be removed from the latter without damaging it to a material extent, whereby it will be readily apparent if the identification indicia has been removed or tampered with and surreptitious indicia substituted therefor.

The invention further aims to provide a branding tool which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, thoroughly efficient in its use, expeditious in its action, capable of being readily installed with a conveying appa ratus for the fruit to be marked, readily assembled, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the-novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the tool illustrating the working face thereof,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tool,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the branding member, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the body part of the tool.

The tool includes a holder formed of any suitable material possessing fire resis-ting and electrical non-conducting characteristics. The holder I comprises a body part 2 of substantially rectangular contour in plan having its bottom surface, indicated at 3, squared and its top surface, indicated at 4, of arcuate contour. The body part 2 includes end surfaces 5, 6 which are of squared contour and side surfaces 1, 8 which also are of squared contour.

The surface 4 centrally and lengthwise thereof is formed with an arcuate groove 9 extending from the surface 5 to the surface '8. The groove 9 opens at the surfaces 5, 6. The side surface 1 of the body par-t 2, between its transverse median and the surface 5 is formed With a vertical groove l0 extending from surface 3 to surface 4 and opening at its outer end terminal portion into one side of the groove 9. To provide for the opening of the groove l9 into the groove 9 the upper end terminal portion of the base wall of groove 10 is cut out. The groove I0 has its ends opening at the surfaces 3 and 4. The side surface 8 of the body part 2 between its vertical median and the surf-ace 6 is formed with a vertical groove H extending from the surface 3 to the surface 4 and opening at its outer end terminal portion intothe other side of the groove 9. The opening of the groove H into the groove 9 is provided for by removing the upper end terminal portion of the base wall of the groove H. The ends of the groove ll open at the surfaces 3, 4.

The holder l includes two oppositely extending pairs of spaced parallel lugs of like form adapted to coact with a coupling or attaching means, not shown for suitably installing the tool in active position relative to a conveying structure for the fruit, such by way of example as is disclosed by my ec-pending application, Serial No. 294,- 557, filed September L2, 1939. The lugs of one pair are indicated at l2 and those of the other pair at l3. The lugs I2 are extended laterally from and merge at their inner ends into the surface 5 of the body part 2. The lugs l2 are flush with the surfaces 3, I, 8. The lugs l3 ex,- tend laterally from and merge at their inner ends into the surface 6 of the body part 2. The lugs l3 are flush with the surfaces 3, I, 8. The lugs l2, 13 are of rectangular contour and are of materially less height than the height of the body part 2.

The tool includes an electrically heated member 54, which may be termed a marking member and its purpose is to apply, by searing the desired identification indicia on the surface of the fruit. The indicia, when applied is to extend into the skin of the fruit to a depth whereby it cannot be removed Without impairing the surface of the fruit to an extent to make it quickly discernible that the original indicia has been tampered with. The member I4 is to be secured to the holder 1 in extended relation with respect to the surfaces 3, 4 of the body part 2. The member i i will be constructed of chromel or other suitable electrical resisting material. The member H3 is formed from a suitable length of electrical resisting material of strap-like form and it is of substantially U-shaped contour. The member It includes a pair of arms l5, l8 and a bight l? which connects the arms l5, together. The said arms 55, I5 are disposed in offset relation with respect to each other and offset laterally in opposite directions with respect to a side of the ends of the bight H. The latter will be bent in a manner to form the identification indieia desired, a facsimile of which is to be seared in the fruit. By way of example, such indicia is set up as consisting of the word Brand, as indicated at Hi. It is to be understood, however, that the bight I"! is to be formed in the manner to constitute the identification indicia desired other than the Word Brand. The bight l! after being bent to form the identification indicia is disposed on one of its lengthwise edges whereby the letters forming such indicia will be disposed in parallel planes parallel to the planes of the arms aforesaid.

The arms 45, 26 are encased throughout by metallic casings i9, referably copper. The casings i8 extend from the free ends of the arms to the bight ii. The said casings I!) are adapted to be electrically connected to an electrical heating circuit, not shown for electrically connecting such circuit with the member 15.

The arms i8 with the casings l9 thereon are to be mounted in and extended from the grooves ii), ii respectively and the bight i1 is to be arranged within and in extended relation with respect to the groove 8. The height of the bight I l is greater than the depth of groove 8. The latter is to be filled with cementitious material preferably prior to the positioning of the bight I? in the groove 9. When the cementitious material '22 has been packed in the groove 9, the inner portion of the bight I7. is extended through the material and seats against the base wall of the groove 9. The outer portion of the bi ht I? is disposed in projecting relation with respect to the surface 4 of the body part 2 and such outer portion is employed for searing a facsimile of the identification indiciain the fruit. When the biglrt ii is arranged in the groove 9 it is bent in the manner so as to conform to the curvature of such groove. The arms i5, :8 with the casings it thereon, are extended through the groove i8, El and when so extended will shift the bight to its position in the groove 9. After the arms i5, it are arranged in the grooves 55, ll, a body of cementitious material 2i is packed in said grooves H], II and against the surfaces 1, 80f the body part 2. When'the cementitious materials 20, 2! become set the member I!) is fixedly secured to the body part It] and is prevented from shifting relative to the latter.

What I claim is:

1. A branding tool comprising a heat resisting and a nonelectrical conducting body part, an electrically heated electrical resisting marker member including an identification indicia searing portion merging into corresponding ends of a pair of arms, said portion having inner and outer parts, said inner part extended in and said outer part projecting from a surface of said body part, said arms disposed substantially at right angles to said portion, having a part mounted in and their remaining part projected from another surface of said body part, means for embedding and securing the non-projected part of said portion and the non-projected part of the said arms in and to said body part, that surface of said body part from which said portion extends being formed with a groove for receiving the inner part of such portion, said body being formed with grooves disposed substantially at right angles to the other of said grooves and through which said arms extend, and the means for securing said portion and arms to said body part being arranged in and scaling up the said several grooves.

2. A branding tool comprising a heat resisting and non-electrical conducting body part including a surface of arcuate contour formed lengththereof with an arcuate groove and a pair of side surfaces form-oi with grooves communicating at one end with opposite sides of the said other groove, an electrically heated electrical resisting marker member including an identification indicia searing portion mounted in and extended from said arcuate groove and a pair of having corresponding ends mergin into the ends of said portion, said arms being extended through the grooves in said side surfaces and connecting with said portions at the points of communication between said arcuate groove and the said other grooves, and means mounted on the said several grooves for securing said member to said body part.

3. A branding tool comprisi g a heat resisting and non-electrical conducting body part including a surface of arcuate contour formed lengthwise thereof with an arcuate groove and a pair of side surfaces formed with grooves cornmunicatin at one end with opposite sides of the said other groove, an electrically heated electrical marker member including an ion indicia searing portion mounted in and extended from said arcuate groove and a of arms having corresponding ends merging into the ends of said portion, said arms being extended through the grooves in said si e surfaces and connecting with said portions at the points of communication between said arcuate groove the said. other grooves, and means mounted on the said several grooves for securing said member to said body part, said arms being disposed in ofiset relation with respect to each other and in offset relation with respect to the said portion.

4. A branding tool compri ing a heat resisting and non-electrical conducting b dy part including a suipace of arcuate contour formed lengthwise thereof with an arcuate groove and a pair of side surfaces formed with grooves communicating at one end With opposite sides of the said other groove, an electrically "heated electrical aeaaoov resisting marker member including an identification indicia searing portion mounted in and extended from said arcuate groove and a pair of arms having corresponding ends merging into the ends of said portion, said arms being extended through the grooves in said side surfaces and connecting With said portions at the points of communication between said arcuate groove and the said other grooves, means mounted on the said several grooves for securing said member to said body part, said port-ion being disposed lengthwise of and conforming in contour to the contour of said arcuate groove, and said grooves in said side surfaces being disposed in offset relation with respect to each other.

5. A branding tool comprising a heat resisting and non-electrical conducting body part including a surface of arcuate contour formed lengthwise thereof with an arcuate groove and a pair of side surfaces formed with grooves cornmunicating at one end with opposite sides of the said other groove, an electrically heated electrical resisting marker member including an identification indicia searing portion mounted in and extended from said arcuate groove and a pair of arms having corresponding ends merging into the ends of said portion, said arms being extended through the grooves in said side surfaces and connecting with said portions at the points of communication between said arcuate groove and the said other grooves, means mounted on the said several grooves for securing said member to said body part, said portion being disposed lengthwise of and conforming in contour to the contour of said arcuate groove, and said grooves in said side surfaces being disposed in oiTset relation with respect to each other, said arms being disposed in offset relation with respect to each other and in offset relation with respect to the said portion.

6. A branding tool comprising a heat resisting and non-electrical conducting body part including a surface of arcuate contour formed lengthwise thereof with an arcuate groove and a pair of side surfaces formed with grooves communicating at one end with opposite sides of the said other groove, an electrically heated electrical resisting marker member including an identification indieia searing portion mounted in and extended from said arcuate groove and a pair of arms having corresponding ends merging into the ends of said portion, said arms being extended through the grooves in said side surfaces and connecting with said portions at the points of communication between said arcuate groove and the said other grooves, means mounted on the said several grooves for securing said member to said body part, and said body part having end surfaces each provided with a pair of spaced parallel laterally extending attaching lugs.

7. A branding tool comprising a heat-resisting and non-electrical conducting body part having an outer end and a pair of sides, said body part being formed in its outer end with an end groove and in each side with a side groove, said side grooves being non-aligned and at their outer ends communicating with the end groove at opposite sides of the latter, a one-piece electrically heated electrical resisting marker member of strap-like form including an identification indicia searing portion having an inner lengthwise edge seated on the bottom of said end groove, said portion being extended from the outer end of said body part, said member including a pair of arms disposed within and having lengthwise edges seated against the base Walls of said side grooves, said arms having their outer ends extending into said end groove at the points of communication of the latter with the side grooves and merging into the ends of said portion, and means engaging with the walls of the said several grooves for fixedly securing said member to said body part.

IRA A. TEDDER. 

